Boston, MA DUI Attorney
If you were arrested for OUI in Boston, you face two separate matters, the criminal case under M.G.L. c. 90, sec. 24 and a Registry of Motor Vehicles license suspension, and refusing the breath test brings an automatic 180-day suspension of its own.
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What should Boston readers know first?
Massachusetts treats operating under the influence under M.G.L. c. 90, sec. 24, with separate criminal and Registry of Motor Vehicles consequences. A first offense typically allows the 24D disposition, which includes probation, an alcohol-education program, and a hardship license process. Refusing the breath test triggers an automatic 180-day license suspension that is independent of the criminal case. The intake call with Jim Glaser Law captures the arraignment date, breath-test status, prior record, and current license posture. The firm either handles the matter or connects the client with a Massachusetts criminal-defense partner attorney at no extra cost to the client. OUI matters are billed on a fixed-fee or hourly basis, addressed in the written fee agreement.
The full Massachusetts rules, statutes and typical timeline are on the dui page; this page covers what is specific to Boston.
Courts that serve Boston for DUI matters
Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court, which M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1 divides into eight divisions (Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury), each covering a set of Boston wards, so which division hears a case depends on the neighborhood. Boston is in Suffolk County.
| Court | What it hears | District or address |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Municipal Court | OUI and traffic charges, starting at arraignment | divisions by Boston neighborhood |
| Registry of Motor Vehicles | The license suspension, which runs separately from the court case | Statewide agency |
First steps
- Read the court named on your paperwork. A District Court complaint is brought in the division whose judicial district covers the place of the alleged offense (M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 26), so for an offense in Boston that is the Boston Municipal Court division for that neighborhood.
- Keep every document the police or the court gave you, including any notice from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
- Call (617) JIM-WINS before you file or appear, so the deadline and the right court are checked against your facts.
Key terms
- Judicial district
- The towns one District Court division serves, as listed in M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1. For Boston, the divisions follow the city wards.
- Venue
- The county or district where a case may be filed. Massachusetts sets it by where the parties live or work (M.G.L. c. 223, secs. 1 and 2).
Sec. 24D disposition vs. standard first-offense sentence
| Sec. 24D disposition | Standard first-offense sentence | |
|---|---|---|
| Available to | A first offender, with consent (or one prior ten or more years earlier) | Any first offender |
| License suspension | 45 to 90 days (210 days under 21) | One-year revocation |
| Requires | An alcohol-education program and probation of up to two years | No program required |
| Excluded where | The driver caused serious injury or death | Not excluded |
Talk to the firm about your dui matter
Call us 24/7 for a free case review. Or send us your details and we will reach out to you within one business day.
What questions do Boston readers ask most?
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Which District Court covers Boston?
Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court, which M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1 divides into eight divisions (Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury), each covering a set of Boston wards, so which division hears a case depends on the neighborhood.
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This page is legal information for $Boston, Massachusetts readers, not legal advice for any particular matter. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney advertising under Mass. R. Prof. C. 7.1 to 7.5. Responsible attorney: Jim Glaser, Massachusetts.